Morning Read: The Romneys Come To Virginia...Again

Published Sep 7, 2012 at 8:19 AM

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The seemingly never-ending two weeks of conventions is officially over and now it’s on to the next campaign stop.

Romney will campaign in Virginia Beach Saturday alongside Gov. Bob McDonnell at the Military Aviation Museum. To RSVP and get a ticket click here.

Ann Romney is campaigning in Loudoun County Friday, headlining a “Women for Mitt” rally at Twin Oaks Riding Academy. Doors open at 9:15 a.m. and the event begins at 11:15 a.m.

The Romneys’ campaign stops in Virginia come just days after state officials placed former Republican Congressman Virgil Goode on the state’s ballot as a minor-party presidential candidate—a potential hurdle for Romney in the important swing state.

The WSJ talked to some analysts earlier in the week about what a third-party candidate—who many Virginians are quite familiar with—would mean for Romney.

“Clearly, if the Obama-Romney results are really close, Virgil Goode’s name on the ballot could make a difference, more likely drawing more votes from Romney than Obama,” said Charlie Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report.

“In the tightest of elections, Goode could turn into a headache for Mitt Romney, who almost certainly must win Virginia,” said analyst Stuart Rothenberg.

“Romney’s either going to win Virginia fairly comfortably…or the president is going to beat him by three or four or five points,” said Mike McKenna, a GOP consultant in the state. “Virginia doesn’t have nail-biters.”

And one last Virginia stump speech for the morning: McDonnell pulled an O’Malley and party-crashed the DNC Thursday.

He spoke outside the DNC and offered some praise to former President Clinton as a way to slam President Obama.

“President Clinton gave a great speech but he had to have a real hard time giving that speech,” McDonnell said. “It’s a very different Bill Clinton than it was four years ago, when he essentially said, ‘This man, President Obama’s, not competent to be president of the United States.

IN OTHER NEWS:

* Vincent Gray on the possibilities of a Nat-Orioles World Series. On Thursday he tweeted: "Hard to decide what's exciting me more this week -- the #DNC2012 or the @Nationals batters. #Natitude"